J.B. Hunt announces leadership changes

Lowell-based carrier J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. has made three changes to its executive team, effective Dec. 1, the company announced Monday (Nov. 4). Hunt President and CEO Shelley Simpson said the company is preparing for a freight industry turnaround.

Nick Hobbs, chief operating officer and president of final mile services, will add the responsibilities of president of highway services. Brad Hicks, executive vice president, has been named president of dedicated contract services. David Keefauver has been named executive vice president of people.

“We are in a position to deliver exceptional value for our customers and shareholders throughout our full suite of services, and these changes align the strengths and experience of our executives to lead and grow these services into the future,” Simpson said. “As we navigate current market dynamics and prepare for a return to more normal seasonal demand patterns, we anticipate a large addressable opportunity to capture additional market share and see greater returns on our strategic investments.”

As president of highway services, Hobbs will oversee the company’s brokerage and truckload business segments. He previously oversaw the dedicated segment. The final mile segment was part of the dedicated segment until the first quarter of 2020 when it became its own business segment. Hobbs recently celebrated 40 years with the company.

As president of dedicated contract services, Hicks will focus on expanding the segment’s future market size opportunity. He has spent more than 25 years working across the dedicated segment and served as executive vice president of the segment from 2017 to 2020. Hicks was previously president of highway services and vice president of people. In his role as executive vice president of people, he led the company’s efforts to support employees through enhancements to wellness and benefits, career growth and an inclusive culture. Hicks has worked for J.B. Hunt for 28 years.

As executive vice president of people, Keefauver is expected to bring “his people-first mindset” to the role and drive greater efficiencies across the company’s personnel groups, the release shows. Keefauver was previously executive vice president of the dedicated segment, where he leveraged his operations experience, people leadership skills and focus on operational excellence to drive new growth. He joined J.B. Hunt as a manager trainee more than 29 years ago.

All three executives will report to Simpson.

“As we prepare for an eventual turn in the freight market, we have focused our entire organization on being operationally excellent and scaling our long-term investments to enable our company to generate appropriate returns that deliver shareholder value,” Simpson said. “The strength and resiliency of our organization is supported by our mode neutral approach and the consistency, tenure, and expertise of our people and executive leadership team, and these moves address the potential we see across the company as we move into 2025.”

Shares of J.B. Hunt (NASDAQ: JBHT) were trading Monday afternoon at $181.50, up 54 cents or 0.30%. In the past 52 weeks, the stock has ranged between $153.12 and $219.51.